Changed trans fluid, lost 2 mpg! HELP!
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 706
Likes: 6
Like I said, shot in the dark, but easy enough to at least try it out.
SIde note, I thought the adaptive transmissions on the newer trucks adjusted more shift parameters than just shift firmness. I know you, Mark, are definitely the expert on these things and would love to learn what really is adaptive about it.
I have personally noticed the shifting strategy is way more aggressive when I reset my KAM at the beginning of every month (have a tuner so it is super easy to do) as I am a pretty easy driver and hate that it learns my easy style when I don't want to be easy on it or need to move around traffic. It could just be my imagination but it definitely seems to shift later in the RPM band right after the KAM reset.
SIde note, I thought the adaptive transmissions on the newer trucks adjusted more shift parameters than just shift firmness. I know you, Mark, are definitely the expert on these things and would love to learn what really is adaptive about it.
I have personally noticed the shifting strategy is way more aggressive when I reset my KAM at the beginning of every month (have a tuner so it is super easy to do) as I am a pretty easy driver and hate that it learns my easy style when I don't want to be easy on it or need to move around traffic. It could just be my imagination but it definitely seems to shift later in the RPM band right after the KAM reset.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,739
Likes: 2,669
From: SE Florida
It's possible that changes to the schedule was added to the adaptive after I left. We tried to make that work while I was at Ford and it was a bust. But maybe they learned something later.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 7
From: Pittsburgh, PA
While the seasonal fuels might affect those of us in the north, the OP mentions he lives in Virginia. Virginia doesn't use winter/summer gasoline as the northern states do. And if he hasn't not changed where he's filling up then the quality of fuel is likely not the issue.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,050
Likes: 1,524
From: Maine, Virginia
While the seasonal fuels might affect those of us in the north, the OP mentions he lives in Virginia. Virginia doesn't use winter/summer gasoline as the northern states do. And if he hasn't not changed where he's filling up then the quality of fuel is likely not the issue.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 295
From: Fresno, CA
Yes, when I reset the trip computer it resets the MPG and I checked the fluid today after a trip of running errands. The display said the transmission temp was 185 degrees, the fluid is bright red and was in the “B” hash marks. I am not sure what this means, the truck was on a level spot when I pulled the dipstick.
On a side note, it was a real pain in the a** to get to! I miss the old trucks that you sat in the engine bay and worked on it and could reach everything, like my 84 with a 302! But I also know that my 84 wouldn’t pull my camper either!
Idea: Take some fluid out, maybe get it to the bottom of the B range and see if your MPG changes. Just use a hand pump & tube down the dipstick hole. Super easy. I used this method to "pre-drain" my tranny before dropping the pan. I was able to remove about 4qts and made it a lot less messy.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Charlottesville, VA
Update!!!!
Update!!!! I got my MPG back!! No idea how but it is back to normal now. I spent the weekend in Baltimore MD, bc Uncle Sam said to, I left the truck here for the wife to drive and when I got home and drove it on Monday, I notice that the MPG on the computer had improved. I have driven it every day since, maybe a little more than I should, to check the mileage and it is definitely back to normal. I did absolutely nothing to the truck, other than check the trans fluid, so this baffles me.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions, if there is something that anyone finds out please pass it along, I am open to all the knowledge I can get!
Thanks for all the help and suggestions, if there is something that anyone finds out please pass it along, I am open to all the knowledge I can get!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 7
From: Pittsburgh, PA
I lived in the Stafford/Fredericksburg area and had to fight the traffic of the Washington sprawl for the last 15 years I lived there so my fuel economy always sucked!
(That and the exorbitant cost of living is why I moved out of that area in 2007.)
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Asheboro, NC
Update!!!! I got my MPG back!! No idea how but it is back to normal now. I spent the weekend in Baltimore MD, bc Uncle Sam said to, I left the truck here for the wife to drive and when I got home and drove it on Monday, I notice that the MPG on the computer had improved. I have driven it every day since, maybe a little more than I should, to check the mileage and it is definitely back to normal. I did absolutely nothing to the truck, other than check the trans fluid, so this baffles me.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions, if there is something that anyone finds out please pass it along, I am open to all the knowledge I can get!
Thanks for all the help and suggestions, if there is something that anyone finds out please pass it along, I am open to all the knowledge I can get!
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